Senators Anderson and Schauer offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 133.

            A resolution to urge the Michigan Department of Transportation to add an interchange in the charter township of Canton at I-275 and Warren Road.

            Whereas, The western Wayne County region continues to have tremendous growth in residential and commercial development, which is straining the existing infrastructure, particularly the interchange at I-275 and Ford Road; and

            Whereas, With the growth of development in the area caused by Michigan’s only IKEA store, auto-related suppliers, and other companies at nearby Haggerty Road and Ford Road, the entire area has experienced exponential growth. Canton Township’s population in the last several years has increased from 57,040 in 1990 to 76,366 in 2000 and to 92,284 in 2006. The projected population is expected to exceed 100,000 within the next five years; and

            Whereas, The presence of Westland Mall on Warren Road east of I-275, the potential development of the Aerotropolis combining Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Willow Run Airport and its future role as a pivotal economic hub for the entire southeastern Michigan area demonstrate clearly the need for improvements. Accessibility to freeways plays a crucial role in supporting the current and projected population and commercial growth as well as upcoming airport developments; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the Michigan Department of Transportation to add the construction of an interchange at Warren Road and I-275 to the MDOT Five-Year Plan and build this interchange at the earliest possible opportunity; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Department of Transportation, the city of Westland, the charter township of Canton, and the Canton Downtown Development Authority.